Kerala expert panel against full repeal of lockdown

17-member committee recommends continuation of curbs on people’s movement across international, State boundaries

08/04/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Food service: Workers packing meals priced at ₹20 in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. S. MAHINSHA

The time is not yet ripe for the full withdrawal of the lockdown on April 14 and the withdrawal strategy should be gradual, phased and calibrated to ensure that the case load is kept below the capacity of the healthcare system to deal with it, an expert committee appointed by the Kerala government has said.

“Continuing to restrict large-scale movement of people across international and State boundaries is critical and should not be considered unless and until the situation is under control in every State,” the committee, comprising 17 eminent persons and headed by K.M. Abraham, said in its report to the government. The panel was specifically asked to look into the strategy to ease the lockdown restrictions.

However, it said it is cognizant that a prolonged and stringent lockdown will lead to economic hardships, famine, and law and order issues, which may undermine both the lockdown and health management objectives. The committee said a phased approach should be operationlised at the revenue district level while easing the restrictions.

The State should continue to ramp up preparatory work for the possible rapid rise of COVID-19 cases. As the cases may exceed the local capacity in some cities, a protocol for assistance should be prepared to avoid unnecessary divisions at the height of the crisis.

The panel also said that the effort to ramp up production and procurement of test kits, ventilators, PPEs for healthcare personnel and masks should not be relaxed. There should be a national effort and the Centre should release funds and create a mechanism to distribute them on a need basis.

Mutual assistance

As States are expected to pass through the peak infection at different timings, a national coordination mechanism is suggested so that the States could support one another with experience, expertise, equipment and finances.

The Centre should ensure effective coordination between the States as well as logistics operators. Supporting the agricultural sector, in production, marketing, storage and transport is essential for the country to tide over the crisis.

The COVID-19 crisis is taking the country into the online world at a rapid pace. Innovations and practices which would have needed years to achieve are being introduced in weeks in education, judiciary, local business and telemedicine, among others. “It should be ensured that such modern technological leaps are not lost after the lockdown as there are huge economic and efficiency gains,” it added.